SRINAGAR: At least 132 militants including top commanders of Lashkar-e-Toiba and Hizbul Mujahideen and 43 security personnel were among 216 people killed in militancy violence in Kashmir this year.
According to official data, 216 people have died of militancy related incidents in the Valley this year so far.
Among the dead include 132 militants, 43 security personnel and 41 civilians, it disclosed.
Top Lashkar-e-Toiba and Hizbul Mujahideen commanders were killed in encounters with security forces this year. It includes Abu Dujana, LeT’s Kashmir chief and most wanted militant and Hizbul Mujahideen’s Sabzar Bhat, who had succeeded Burhan Wani after his killing in an encounter with security forces on July 8 last year.
A police official said the security forces are conducting intelligence-based operations against the militants.
“We have been able to kill top militants, who were involved in planning attacks on security forces, and luring youth to militancy,” he said.
The official said police, CRPF and army are coordinating their operations and have strengthened the intelligence network.
According to official statistics, 19 people have died of militancy violence this month so far.
Among the dead include 12 militants, five civilians and two army men including a Major, it states.
The LeT Kashmir chief and most wanted militant Abu Dujana and his associate were killed in an encounter with security forces at Harkipora village of south Kashmir’s Pulwama district on August 1.
Dujana, who carried a bounty of Rs 15 lakh, was active from 2010 and was involved in most of the attacks on security forces in Valley in last two years.
“In July, 27 militants, 10 civilians and a security personal were killed in militancy related incidents in the Valley,” states the official data.
As per the figures, June witnessed 48 deaths. “Among the dead included 30 militants, 15 security personnel and three civilians.” “In May, 37 people including 17 militants, 10 security personnel and 10 civilians were killed. Eight militants, five civilians and five security men died in April,” it states.
Hizb commander Sabzar, who was a close aide of Burhan, was killed in an encounter with security forces in Tral area of south Kashmir’s Pulwama district.
The data reveals that 16 people including 11 militants, four civilians and a security man died of militancy violence in Kashmir in March. “11 militants, nine security personnel and three civilians were killed in militancy related incidents in February”.
According to official figures, over 190 militancy related incidents have taken place in Kashmir till August 8. “During the same period last year, 155 militancy incidents had taken place in the Valley”.
Most of the encounters this year have taken place in south Kashmir comprising four districts of Anantnag, Pulwama, Kulgam and Shopian.
According to police, more than 120 militants are still active in south Kashmir, which was epicenter of over five month long unrest in the Valley last year after killing of Burhan Wani and has emerged as stronghold of the militants.
In June, army had released a “hit-list” of 12 top militants active in the Valley.
In over two months period after the “hit list” was issued, security forces have killed three top militants figuring in the list.